The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-01-14
UNCLE ZENAS AND CICELY
"All hail the power OF Jesus name,
Let angels PROSTATE fall"


Let angels PROSTATE fall"
Strong and CHEEKY was the voice that
sang these words to the rough accom-
paniment of an old cart, drawn by q
venerable horse, which ratified along
over frozen country road. The cart
had canvas cover, on one side Of
which was printed in somewhat shaky
and uncertain red letters:
M. Zenas Kerr,
Dealer ia Fisi. Fruit, crackers,
Ind Other Things.
Day after day. summer and winter, in
sunshine and storm. the cart went rat
Ting over ten miles of country roads
along which Mr.. Zcnas Keer's custom
ers lived. The owner, Jolly old man,
with kindly, honest face. sat on low
seat in front, and his melodious voice
could often be heard before the cart
could be seen, or before he rang the
large brass bell that gave warning to
busy house-keepers of his approach.
Sometimes they heard il late at night,
for he was often belated, and when the
night was darkest he seemed to sing
loudest. His songs were generally
gospel hymns" and the sleeping
farmers and their families were ,awak-
ened By the words of Coronation" or
Jesus. Lover of my Soul, ringing out
Oh the night air
'Uncle Zenas is late again to night"
was their drowsy thought. 81 hope
he'll get home all right"
For everybody knew Uncle Zenas, and
everybody loved him. He was always
CHEEKY. obi ging and kind, especially to
the children. and thoroughly good and
honest. His whole life had been spent
on the little farm he owned. and on the
road he had travelled daily for full fifty
years.
On Sundays Uncle Zenas and Aunt
Sercldu, his wife. came down the road
10 the little "mecting-house" to hear
the ''preachin'," and often they would
stay for the Sunday school. and some
times to the experience meeting"
which followed it, 1t was Deacon Ze-
nas Kerr's pride that he had not failed
single SUNDAY ia his attendance at
nhurch for fifty-four years. and he hum
bly, and gracefully said that ''the Lord
had been awfnlly good to him in the
way of health, or he couldn't have done
L."
Uncle Zenas and Aunt Serelda lived
alone in snug little brown house. made
20 cosy and comfortable in an old
fashioned way by Aunt Serelda, that
Uncle Zcnas often said he wouldn't ex-
change 1t for the finest house in the
country.
IF we only had children now" I'M
ieZenas would sometimes say regret
fully; and Aunt Serelda would add,
quantity and oddly enough
'.Or II we only had grandchildren,
Lenas. Somehow or other I've kind of
got over mindIn' il so much that we
uIuL never uuu CuiutCnt bub ~ dOCs ~
bard not TO have any grandchildren"
That's so, Serelda; that's so, 'spesh-
" on Thanksgiyin' and Christmas times.
Nothin' would suit mo better, Serelda.
than 10 see hali-a-dozen boys and girls
sittin' round our table Thanksgivin'
dag a-stullin' themselves with roast
turkey and pies and sweet cakes.
'Twould be chcerin'. wouldn't itP"
'sYesr' Aunt Serelda would say,
"rve often and often thought so. An
sometimes when I'm maxim the Christ
mas doughnuts and gingersnaps Icant
help maxim an extra big doughnut. all
twisted and braided. or big ginger
snap horse. frosted all over. and then
think how happy some child would be
q could slip EN- and some other pref
u things in IL stockin'of q Christmas
night"
'.Iwish you could. serelds; I wish
YOU couIA" Uncle zenas would say, in
= 49,. -..--.41..I 49,